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sedos presents
Arcola Theatre July 31, 08
Cockpit Theatre Aug 5 & 6, 08
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A review by fiona Doyle for EXTRA! EXTRA!
When Don Carlos’ father, King Phillip II of Spain, decides to marry his son’s one true love, a story of jealousy, betrayal and murder begins. Carlos (Panny Skrivanos) decides to enlist the trust of his old friend Rodrigo (Nick Chronnell) in the hope of setting up meetings with his stepmother, Queen Elizabeth (Lyanne Mansfield). But Rodrigo has other designs and embarks on a mission to turn Carlo’s passion into a full-scale rebellion against his father’s regime. While Schiller’s play is a classical historical drama, it is also a personal play about family tragedy. However, although Rebecca Smith’s massively edited version is a brave attempt, it never quite hits its mark. Substantial editing is partly to blame. The many levels that Schiller’s script works on cannot be realised and an overall lack of empathy is the result. When an anguished Don Carlos (Panny Skrivanos) cradles the lifeless body of his friend Rodrigo (Nick Chronnell) and cries out for his loss, the effect is not as impacting as it might have been had the performers been working from the original script, thus enabling more substantial connections between their characters and their audience to be established. Many actors have been allowed to indulge in unbalanced dramatic overload. Their efforts would have been greatly enhanced by some subtle infusion of light and shade as at times, the climax of a scene is overshadowed by a series of climaxes, leaving the performers with nowhere else to go. And unfortunately, all of the female characters with the exception of Princess Eboli (Chloe Faine) are more token parts than anything else. Set design is sparse, as is lighting design, adding a modernist minimalist touch to the production. Thoughtful use of entrances and exits allows some nice overlapping of scenes, lending a compact sense to the play. Panny Skrivanos and Robert Reeve are impressive in their roles as exasperated father and son, and hats off to the entire cast (and the audience) for enduring stifling London summer temperatures in the Arcola’s small un-air conditioned Studio 2.
Don Carlos will run at Cvenues, Edinburgh from he 17th – 23rd August and also shows at The Cockpit Theatre, London on the 5th and 6th August. Venue: Cvenues, Brodies Close, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh 17th - 23rd Aug 0845 260 1234 5.55pm The Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth Street, London 5th – 6th Aug 7.45pm Box Office: www.sedos.co.uk Director: Rebecca Smith Assistant Director: Anne-Marie Leigh Producer: Rebecca Weymouth Stage/Props Manager: Amy Daw Lighting Design: Ben Pickersgill Sound Design: Darren Hannant Cast: Panny Skrivanos
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